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MARC Adding Weekend Service Between Baltimore, D.C.

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 08: An Amtrak train waits in the station on February 8, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. Amtrak, a government-owned corporation, has joined up with New Jersey's two U.S. senators to propose a new rail link to New York City under the Hudson River. The "Gateway Project", which was formally proposed on Monday, would include two tunnels under the Hudson River and increase the train traffic under the river from 62 trains per day to 92 and cost an estimated $13.5 billion. This plan is looked at as an alternative after New Jersey Governor Chris Christie killed another rail link plan last year after he deemed it too costly to New Jersey residents. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

File photo of an Amtrak train. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

BALTIMORE — Maryland is expanding MARC rail service beyond the work week.

State transportation officials say the transportation bill signed Thursday includes $100 million for enhancement for MARC, including weekend service on the Penn line, which runs between Washington’s Union Station and Baltimore’s Penn Station. It will also pay for new locomotives and two more weekday roundtrips on the Camden line, which runs between Union Station and Camden Yards in Baltimore.

Maryland Transit Administration spokesman Terry Owens says the state has begun negotiations on the new service with Amtrak, which is the contractor for Penn line service. He says weekend service is still months away, but officials hope to start as soon as possible.